Dump vehicle



` 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [730@ 7/ (fr, Ca/"ence fg/0726s March 10, 1931'. c. l. JoNEs 1,195,399

DUMP VEHICLE Filed May 20. 1929 5 Sheets-,Sheet 2 C. l. JONES March 10, 1931.

DUMP VEHICLE Filed May 20, 1929 l l 0 l I l I l 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 10, 1931 unirse srafres` CLARECE I. JONES, OF S'JI.y LOUIS, MISSOURI f w l"nmvns' VEHICLE Application flied May 2o,

rlhis invention relates toimproveddump trailers and trucks particularly of the crawler type. Y

vDump vehicles which accommodate large o'I quantities of material have required the employment of hoisting mechanism in unloading operations and difficulty has been' encountered in evenly spreading their contents to produce a uniformlill. ln devices of this lo class, the Vdumping bodies have beenv constructed to discharge their contents at one side of the vehicle, atthe end of the vehicle between its wheels or through the bottom along the entire length ofthe body.V When this construction is used on a vehicle having crawler trucks, successive loads cannot be laid adjacent each other. The resulting fill consists of laterally spaced windrows lf material having furrows therebetween substantially as wide as the trucks. `These furrows have toV be filled in by hand shovels or team drawn grading machines.

The rear end of a dumping body of the type which discharges material rearwardly between the rear wheels is usually pivotally mounted on the chassis of a vehicle above the wheels thereof and when the body is in dumping position, the contents thereof are discharged in heaps. movement of a vehicle is relied upon to spread the material but this is unsuccessful with slow moving vehicle, such as tractor trailers, because the distance between the ground and the discharge end of the body is too great to allow the material emptied to hold back the remainder ofv the material in the body while the vehicle slowly proceeds forward. The heaps of material formed by such dumping operations frequently have to be spread by hand shovels or team drawn Scrapers and graders.

The main ob ects of this invention are to provide an improved dumping vehicle which will discharge the material over the-rear crawler trucks of the vehicle uponwhich it is mounted so as to deposit material in the path of the trucks in back of the vehicle as well as between such paths, thereby producing a substantially uniform fill; to provide an improved mounting of a dumping body Generally, forward 1929. seal No. 364,606.

on a vehicle for causing the discharge end thereof to positioned close to the ground during dumping operations so that the material being emptied yfrom the body will hold back the remaining'contents thereof and cause the'contents ofthe body to be laid evenly' upon the ground the vehicle is moved forwardly to provide an improved mounting for a dump trailer body which will permit the body to be rotated to an unloading position withoutthe aid of hoisting equipment; to

provide an improved construction and arrangement in which the point of pivotal attachment of a dump bodyis of suiiicient distance from the center of massV thereof to create a moment, when the vehicle is suddenly started, which will rock the body to a dumping position; to provide improved tilting arresters for interrupting'the rotationy of the-body when the latter is being dumped so as to protect the discharge end of the body l from forceful engagementwwith the ground and permit light structure to be employed in its construction; and to provide improved means for holding a tail gate in predetermined open position for spreading and level- `ing off the dumped material as the vehicle is moved forwardly.

provide an improved prop for restoring a ve- Further objects of this lnvention are to v hicle dump body' to a loading position by the v initial movement of the vehicle after the con- 'y tents thereof have been dumped; to provide an improved tail gate mounting structure for allowing the tail gate to be moved bodily from the vicinity of the discharge end of the body so as to permit unobstructed discharge jof the material which is usually piled above the sides of the body; to provide an improved actuating mechanism for automatically opening and closing lthe tail gate of a dump body as the latter is rotated to unloading and loading positions respectively; and to provide'improved means for. releasably retaining the dump bodyin a loading position.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a specific embodiment of my invention, in which Figure l lis a side elevation of a trailer showing the body in a loading and carrying position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1 showing the body of the trailer in an intermediate dumping position.

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the trailer body.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectionof the rear end portion of the body taken at the longitudinal center thereof and showing the body in an arrested position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 4 showing the body in extreme dumping position.

In the form shown, the trailer comprises a chassis frame and spaced rear crawler trucks. The trucks are connected withl the chassis frame by a transverse shaft journaled in apertures in the sides of said frame and` apertures in the frame of the trucks. A dump body having an opendischarge end isfmountveti-'above the chassis frame by side and intermediate structure having clamping. members thereon by which the body is rigidly'secured to the laterally extending shaft. Coacting latch mechanism is provided on the chassis and body respectively for preventing the body and shaft fromv rotating relative-to the chassis whenI the body is in a loading and carrying position.

A tailgate pivotallymounted: on thedisi charge` end ofthe body is providedfwith actinating mechanismby which itis automatically opened and closedl as the body roclrs'to unloading and loading'positions respectively.`

rTilting arresters or shock absorbersfor interrupting the initial downwardrotation of the' discharge end of the body andlthereafter allowing the body to tilt' gradually as thevehicle is moved forwardly, arepivotally mounted on the intermediate V.supporting` structure of the body. prop: pivotally mounted on the side of the body and enga-geable with' the'ground therebelow is provided for righting the body to aloading position as tlie vehicle 'is moved forwardly after its contents have been emptied.

In: the construction illustrated,` a vehicle comprising a. chassis-1, front wheels2, and

- rear crawler trucks 3 is provided witha dump body 4. The trucks 3 comprise anV intermediate frame 5, pairs of front and rear wheels 6 and 7 respectively, and an endless chain of tread members 8. An axle or shaft 9 is journaled in apertures in the frames 5 of each truck. This axle extends through apertures in the sidesof the chassis thereby connecting the tractor trucks andfthe chassis. The axle extends outwardly at both endsbeyond the sides of the chassis 1, providing'a` mounting for the dump body 4. The dump body 4 comprises downwardly extending side structures 10 and an intermediate structure 10 on which upper clamping members 11 are adjustably mountedby vbolts 12. rllhe clamping members 11 and complementary clamping members 13 together form a collar for receiving the shaft or axle 9. These members are firmly clamped together by bolts 14 thereby conveniently securing the dump body 4 on the axle 9. The dump body may be adjusted in position by removing the bolts 12 and moving the body forwardly or rearwardly relative to t-he upper clamping member 11.

The axle 9 thus serves as a connection between-thechassis of the vehicle and the tractor trucks, provides a pivotal mounting for the vehicle body, and in addition it supports the idler wheels 15 of the caterpillar trucks.

Latch mechanism comprising a hook 16 pivotally mounted on the yfront end ofthe body 4 and a catch 17 pivotally mounted-.on the front end of the chassis 1 is provided for releasably holding the Vbody 4 in` its upright horizontal position. The hook 16 is resiliently urged towardsthe'catchflf by. aspringlS which bears-between a collar 19 on'a rod 20 connected with .the hook, and the inner side of the front wall of the-vehicle. The catch or pin'lis carried'by one armiofabell crank hand-:lever 22 is rotated in a; clockwise direction, the catch 17; is in turn rotated out'. of registration with the'hoolr 16', andthe body becomes free to `rotate rearwardly.

.A tail gate-24 for closing. the discharge end of` the' body' 4,.is pivot-ally attached? tothe upper edgeof sides 215. of the-body., by arms 26. The arms l26'extend forwardly from the rearendof the body and provideapivotal attachment forrthe4 tail gate 24 by means of which thelatter mayf be moved bodily from the vicinity ot the'discharge end of thebody. rlihis feature isaccomplishedwithout the employment offoverhead'structure which would be in the way of -a shovel or'other loading equipment by pivotally attachingthe arms 26 to the body in advance of'thev rear end thereof. l

The tail gate 24 is automatically opened and-closed asft-he'bodyis rotatedfto unloading andfloading positions respectively by mechanism-shown in Figures 1 and 2. The gate opening apparatusfcomprises a lever 27 pivotally mounted? intermediate its ends on a pin 28"secured to the side of the'body 4.` The lower end of the lever'27 is connected/ with the tail gate by a rigid link 29.i The-link 29 ispivotally attached to the tail gate 24 by a safety pin 30, preferably comprising-l soft metal, which will shear beforethe gate opening mechanismwould be subjected to a force suflicientto injure it. The' upper endf of the lever 27 is connect-ed with the chassis 1 of the vehicle by an adjustable link 31 preferably comprising an angle bar. The linltl includes a turnbuclle 32 by meansofwhich it may be lengthened' and shortened. The lower endof the-link 31 islpivot-allymounted on a pipe 33 which extends laterally'across the width of the vehicle and protru'des from 'the sides thereof. A cotter pin, nut or other vward rotation of the discharge end of the body when the latter is tilted to a dumping position. These arresters each comprises a wooden block 85 having metal strips 36 of strap iron inlaid in opposite sides. The strips 36 extend above the topv of the block and are provided with apertures for receiving a bolt 37 which is mounted on the intermediate supporting structure 10 of the body 4. The bolts37 extend through eyes 38 rigidly attached to the intermediate supporting structure. The block 35 of the tilting arrester is recessed at its bottom extremity for providing a protruding portion 39 of reduced dimensions and the front Vand rear sides of the block are beveled at their lupadjacent per end portions as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The arresters normally hang downwardly in the position shown in Fig. 3 when the body is upright, but when the body is in the unloading position shown in Fig. 5 they lie the intermediate supporting structure 10. A chain 40 attached at one end to the front side of the body and at its other l end to the chassis limits the rearward rotation of the body when the arresters cannot be relied upon while dumping over a clilf.

A ycable 41 is secured to the body for returning it to an upright position. The cable may be tensioned by attaching its free end to the caterpillar of the tractor by which the trailer is drawn or it may be secured to the body in close proximity to its own caterpillars and secured thereto at its free end. A prop 42 pivotally mounted on a trunnion 42 extending from the side of the body is also provided for this purpose. The prop preferably comprises an I-beam which is split longitudinally at its lower end.

One side of the split portion of the -beam is bent arcuately as shown in Fig. l providing a curved prong 43 and a straight prong 43 The prongs are reinforced by cleats 44 comprising angle plates each having a web 45. One cleat is mounted on each of the prop. The webs of the cleats are of sufficient width to provide a bearing surface having a substantial area. position and the prop is no-tin use, it may be carried in an elevated position not shown in the drawings, by attaching the cha-in 46 to the hook 47 on the prop;

The operation is as follows:

1When the body is in uprightk The body is filled while it is in upright position and when it is desired to dump its contents the hook 16 isreleased `by the manipulation of the lia-nd lever 22 and the entire vehicle is suddenly started orjerkedin a forward direction. This' action causes the body which is pivotally mounted substantially over its center of mass to be tilted in an anti-clockwise direction. There is suthcient distance between the center of mass and the point of pivotal attachment to create a moment, when the vehicle is suddenly started, of ample degree to tilt the body even when the forward portion. thereof is loaded in excess of the'rear portion to a substantial extent.

As the body begins to rotate to its dumping position, the tilting arresters 34 swing oownwardly and' approachv the ground. Further rotation of the body 4c`auses the protruding portion 39 to be extended into the ground thereby gradually slowing up the rotation lof the body. This action is particula-rly advantageous when the vehicle is used on roclry or frozen ground. When the entire length of the protruding portion 39 has been sunl: into the ground, the shoulders 40 on the arrester contact with the earth and prevent further rotation of the body. By moving the vehicle forwardly the tilting arresters 34 may be rocked to the position shown in Fig. 5 thus causing the final steps of the dumping operation to be gradually effected. As the body 4 is rotated to its dumping posi- Vtion shown inl Fig. 2, the lever27 is rotated clockwise and thetail gate24 is moved to the open position shown in Fig. 2. The rigid link 29 retains the tail gate 24 in open position until the body isfrighted. f As the vehicle is moved forwardlyl with the tail gate in open position the bottom edge of the latter scrapes the top of the dumped material and levels it off: The tail gate may be retained in various different open positions as required by the nature ofthe material being carted, by altering the pivotal attachment of the rear end of leve-r 29 and adjusting the turn b'uclrle32. l I

When the body is in its extreme `dumping position, its discharge end is in close .proximity to the ground and the contents of the body which first fall to the ground hold back the material remaining in the body and prevent it from being discharged in a heap. It is therefore necessary for the vehicle to be moved gradually in a'forward direction in order to discharge all the material from the body. In thismanner a Ilayer of substantially uniform thickness is laidl upon the ground behind the vehicle as it is moved forwardly.

Thebody 4 may be ri ghted from its dumping position by manually placing the prop 42 in the .forwardly inclined position shown in Fig. 2 and then moving the trailer forwardly. The prongs sink into the ground until the webs of the cleatsengage the ground surface and thereafter, Jforwardmovement of the vehicle exerts an upwa rdthrust on the rear end ot the body.

The contents of the body may be dumped over a cliff or from one elevation to a lower elevation by backing the trailer ai'ter it has been properly placed relative to the top or" the olitfy and rotated to the position shown in Fig. 4:. rlhe tilting arresters 34 are rotated to a rearwardly inclined position bythe ba clward movement and rotation of the'body is limited by the chain 40.

lVhen the ground beneath the trailer does not permit the use ot the righting prop,.the body may be conveniently rotated to an upright position by securing the free end` of the cable 41 to a caterpillar of the tractor by which the trailer is drawn. The caterpillar movesrelative to the tractor as the latter is driven forwardly and the cable pulls the body back to its initial position. The movement of the caterpillars of the trailer relative to its body may also be relied upon tor rightingl the body.

. As the body is tilted to upright position,

the lever 27 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction, thereby moving the tail gate to the position shown in Fig. 1 where it is lirmly held against the rear open end of the body by the rigid link 29.

As` shown in Fig. 3J the discharge end of f the body extendsthe complete width of the vehicle and is adapted to discharge material behindthe vehicle in the path of the caterpillar trucks as well as between them. With a dump vehicle of the type described, a substantially uniform fill may be produced by laying one load of material absolutely adj acent the preceding loads and without leaving furrow-s between successive loads.

Although but one specic embodiment of this inventionv has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construct-ion shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

l. A vehicle of the class described comprising a chassis, a dump body pivotally mounted .substantially midway between its front and rear extremities on said chassis-adapted to tilt to an unloading` position, a tilting arrester com prising a block pi votally mounted on said body for co-action with the surface over which the vehicle is drawn for interrupting the initial tilting of said body and for effecting a later gradual tilting thereot` as said vehicle isV moved forwardly7 and means comprising a chain attached'at its ends to said body and chassis respectively for positively limiting the tilting of said body when, material. is dumped. from one elevationto a lower elevation.

2. A dump vehicle'of the class described comprising a supporting structure including an axle carrying beams having supporting wheels j ournaled on the ends ot the beams, a load carrying body pivotally mounted upon said axle and extending laterally over said wheels and otherwise arranged so that when uniformly filled the center of gravity of the body will besubstantially over said axle and above said wheels in order that said body may easily rock rearwardly to an unloading lposition, and means carried by said body for coaction with the surface over'which the vehicle is drawn arranged to control the rearward rocking of the body gradually as the vehicle is drawn forward.

3. A dump vehicle ot the class described comprising a supporting structure including the load carrying wheels7 a body pivotally mounted on said supportingv structure so that its center of gravity is substantially above its pivotal. supports whereby the body may rock rearwardly to an unloading position when the vehicle is suddenly started, said body extendinglaterally over said supporting wheels, and means carried by said body for coacting with the surface over whichv the vehicle is drawn to control the rearward rocking of said body and thereby cause the loadto be gradually released as the vehicle is drawn forward. Y

Signed at Chicago this 7th day of May,

CLARENCE I. JONES. 

